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220-1102 Practice Question: That their virtual machine, which is used for…
A user reports that their virtual machine, which is used for testing software, suddenly lost network connectivity. The host machine is connected to the internet and can browse websites. The VM is configured with a bridged network adapter. What is the most likely cause of this issue?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA A+ exams often test the misconception that a bridged adapter shares the host's IP address; candidates incorrectly assume the VM inherits the host's connectivity, but in reality, the VM must obtain its own IP via DHCP, and a lease expiration can cause a silent disconnect while the host remains online.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The VM's DHCP lease has expired and it failed to obtain a new IP address.
In a bridged network configuration, the VM obtains its IP address directly from the same DHCP server as the host (e.g., the home router). If the DHCP lease expires and the VM fails to renew it (due to a network hiccup, DHCP server overload, or misconfigured lease time), the VM will lose its IP address and network connectivity, while the host remains unaffected because it maintains its own active lease. This is the most common cause of isolated VM connectivity loss in a bridged setup.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The host's firewall is blocking the VM's network traffic.
Why it's wrong here
The host's firewall, if misconfigured to block traffic for a specific VM's IP address or MAC address, could indeed cause isolated network loss. However, typical host firewall rules often apply more broadly to network interfaces or subnets. If the host firewall were blocking general VM network traffic, it would likely impact all virtual machines connected to that interface or even the host's own network access, making it a less probable cause for a single, isolated VM's network issue.
- ✓
The VM's DHCP lease has expired and it failed to obtain a new IP address.
Why this is correct
When a virtual machine's DHCP lease expires, it loses its assigned IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway configuration. If the VM then fails to successfully renew its lease with the DHCP server, it will no longer have valid network parameters, effectively severing its connection to the network. This is a common occurrence in bridged networking where the VM directly relies on the physical network's DHCP server for its addressing.
- ✗
The virtual switch on the host has been disabled.
Why it's wrong here
A virtual switch on a host acts as the central networking hub for all virtual machines connected to it. If this critical component were disabled, every single virtual machine configured to use that specific virtual switch would simultaneously lose all network connectivity. Therefore, a disabled virtual switch is an improbable cause for an isolated network issue affecting only one virtual machine while others remain operational.
- ✗
The VM's operating system is corrupted.
Why it's wrong here
Operating system corruption typically manifests with a wide range of severe symptoms beyond just network loss, such as boot failures, system instability, application crashes, or blue screens of death. While extreme corruption could indirectly affect network services, an isolated inability to obtain an IP address or access the network, without other system malfunctions, points more directly to a network configuration or DHCP issue rather than a fundamentally corrupted OS.
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SOHO Network Security
Key term
Virtual machine
A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a physical computer that runs an operating system and applications just like a real machine, but is isolated and managed by a hypervisor on a host system.
Key term
DHCP server
A DHCP server is a network device or service that automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices on a network, eliminating the need for manual configuration.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.